时差N小时 健忘症

When we remember something, the neurons in our brains communicate with each other in a particular way.

我们在记忆一些事情的时候，大脑里的神经元会以一种特殊的方式进行交流。

The chemical and sometimes even structural¹ changes that occur create a pathway called a memory trace.

这种化学物质的结构时而发生变化产生一种叫记忆痕迹的路径。

Signals traveling along these traces are what allow us to remember things.

信号通过这些路径传输，这样我们就可以记住事情了。

When the chemical changes first occur, they create short term memory, or things we remember for only a brief time.

化学物质最初发生变化时，就制造出短期记忆或是一些我们只能记很短时间的事情。

But short-term memory can become long term memory if the memory trace is activated² enough so that it creates a long-term pathway in the brain.

如果记忆痕迹足够活跃在大脑里制造出一条长期路径的话，短期记忆可以变成长期。

This process is called consolidation³.

这个过程叫加强。

When something interrupts the memory-storage process-like a hard knock to the head-newly formed memories aren't stored for the long run,

当记忆储存的过程被打断—就像头被狠狠的敲击。新形成的记忆就不会持续很久，

and you can't remember things that just happened.

所以就不能记住刚刚发生的事情。

This is called anterogradeamnesia.

这叫作顺行性遗忘症。

Retrograde amnesia⁴ which is when you can't recall things from your long term memory either.

逆行性遗忘症是不记得以前发生的事。

Luckily, in many cases of amnesia memory eventually returns, although the incident that causedamnesia is often never recalled.

幸运的是，在许多健忘症的案例中，大多数最终都会恢复记忆。虽然引起失忆的原因也通常不记得。

1 structural   

adj.构造的，组织的，建筑（用）的

参考例句：

• The storm caused no structural damage.风暴没有造成建筑结构方面的破坏。
• The North American continent is made up of three great structural entities.北美大陆是由三个构造单元组成的。

2 activated   

adj. 激活的 动词activate的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• The canister is filled with activated charcoal.蒸气回收罐中充满了活性炭。

3 consolidation   

n.合并,巩固

参考例句：

• The denser population necessitates closer consolidation both for internal and external action. 住得日益稠密的居民，对内和对外都不得不更紧密地团结起来。 来自英汉非文学 - 家庭、私有制和国家的起源
• The state ensures the consolidation and growth of the state economy. 国家保障国营经济的巩固和发展。 来自汉英非文学 - 中国宪法

4 amnesia   

n.健忘症，健忘

参考例句：

• People suffering from amnesia don't forget their general knowledge of objects.患健忘症的人不会忘记关于物体的一些基本知识。
• Chinese medicine experts developed a way to treat amnesia using marine materials.中国医学专家研制出用海洋物质治疗遗忘症的方法。